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Affirmative Action to bypass Proisir Plate
Joshua Smith, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk • August 31st, 2026 2:55 pm
Affirmative Action will bypass Saturday's Gr.1 Proisir Plate (1400m). Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images)
Matamata trainer Pam Gerard has elected to bypass Saturday’s Gr.1 Proisir Plate (1400m) with Affirmative Action, which will allow the Stephen Marsh-trained Tardelli to make the 16-horse field.
Affirmative Action resumed with a pleasing fourth placing in the Gr.2 Foxbridge Plate (1200m) earlier this month, but Gerard cited weight concerns as a key factor in her decision, and the son of Yes Yes Yes will be kept to sprint distances this spring.
“It’s just the weight disadvantage for the four-year-old geldings,” Gerard said. “Looking ahead to the future, if he were to run a good race and run a place, I think he would go sky high through the weights, and it would be very tricky for him thereon.
“He will go to Te Rapa the following week for an open 1100m. He might go to Hastings for the open sprint (Gr.3 Timberspan Spring Sprint, 1400m) and Te Rapa on the 7th of November for the Legacy (Listed, 1200m). We are just going to play it by ear and stick to open handicaps at this stage.
“We will give him a light season, he had a pretty big season last year.”
Group One-winning stablemate Romanoff looks to be building nicely into his spring preparation, and he will likely resume at Hastings next week before returning for the Gr.1 Howden Insurance Mile (1600m) a fortnight later.
“He has come back well, as has the other fella (Affirmative Action), they have had a nice spell,” Gerard said. “He is always a horse that puts 100 percent in whatever he does, whether it is track work or racing. It is good to see him that little bit wiser and stronger. I am looking forward to getting him out and about.
“He might go to Hastings and run in an Open 1200m before going back down there for a mile a couple of weeks later,” Gerard said. “There are just no options over 1400m apart from going to New Plymouth this week, and that is a fairly big trip.”
Further south, Gerard is pleased with the way three-year-old filly Niccita has come through her debut run at Riccarton on Saturday, where she finished seventh over 1000m, and she is set to return to the Christchurch track on Saturday week to contest the Listed NZB Canterbury Belle Stakes (1200m).
“She was quite unlucky, but she has bounced out of it,” Gerard said. “She ate up and was very bright and sparky the next day.
“She will head to the Canterbury Belle, hopefully we can make the field. We will be having a go at the black type, that is what we are there for.”
Meanwhile, Gerard is set to have two representatives at Te Aroha’s postponed meeting on Thursday - Papparazzi and Divider in the Maiden 1400m.
“Papparazzi is kicking off, Gerard said. “He trialled nicely at Te Rapa. He is going to want to get out over ground, but I am pretty happy with him.
“Divider has had a bit of a gap between races. He has got a bit of ability but probably just needs more time and to get up over more ground.”
